Castille Character Camp in Cedartown June 27-28 [updated]

Jeremiah Castille is confident that if parents bring their child to his Character Camp on June 27 and 28, they will be glad that they did.

“The quality of the camp for the monetary investment that is made, I don’t think you will find a better camp,” Castille said. “They can go to a University of Georgia, or Auburn or Alabama camp and pay several hundred dollars and they will not get better coaching at those camps. They will not meet a better group of coaches with character that care about what they do.”

Castille and a host of former Division I football players and coaches will be in Cedartown for his two day camp next month. The camp is being held by the Jeremiah Castille Foundation and the City of Cedartown Parks and Recreation Department. Athletes from first grade through a senior in high school will be eligible to participate.

Registration forms will be available until Friday, June 6, at several locations in Cedartown, including the Boys and Girls Club, Cedartown City Hall and the Nathan Dean Gym at the Bert Wood Youth and Athletic Complex.

Completed forms must be returned to City Hall in order to be processed. The registration form is also available online at www.castillefoundation.org. Online registration forms will automatically be sent to City Hall.

The free camp, held at Cedartown High School Memorial Stadium, boasts two exciting events designed for four different age groups.

Speed and agility camps will be offered on Saturday, June 28 for young athletes.

A session for first grade through third grade will be offered from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. A second session, for fourth grade through fifth grade, will take place from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Both sessions will be taught by 1984 400-meter relay Olympic gold medalist Willie Smith.

A two-day football camp will take place Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28, for older athletes. Friday’s camp begins at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday’s camp begins at 8 a.m. This camp is designed for sixth grade through 12th grade students and is limited to the first 200 that sign up.

Castille is a former University of Alabama defensive back. He also played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos. Castille was on the Denver team that played in Super Bowl XXII. He is currently the chaplain for the University of Alabama football team.

“Our camp is coached by guys that played Division I football or they played and they are now coaching,” Castille said. “The strength of the camp is we use pretty much the same group of coaches every year. This is our seventh year together. I know them, they know me, so when we talk about character, integrity and honesty, I know the people we got coaching them live those types of lives.”

Castille said he started the camp because of the need he saw in communities as he traveled.

“Our young people, our teenagers, they need a good influence and we hope to be that,” Castille said.

Castille pointed out that another reason they hold these camps is to let young athletes know that what they see on television on Saturdays and Sundays in the fall doesn’t always tell the whole story.

“We want to communicate to them what is reality in life versus what they see on television,” Castille said. “Having been a former professional athlete, when you watch television and you see athletes and big football games, a lot of times the kids don’t understand what it takes for them athletes to be doing what they are doing. We want them to understand the reality of that and what it takes to make it.”

Established in 2008, the Castille Character Camp provides a fun, safe and skill-focused experience for youth and athletes. Castille and his staff teaches the fundamental skills of athletics, giving participates a competitive edge in their athletic performance.

The hands-on instruction of the non-contact skills camp is designed to provide a solid foundation in football fundamentals while teaching character training.

Participants are taught teamwork, self discipline, consideration of others and how to attain and maximize their true potential relative to age and development on the field and in life. The camp’s goal is to train, develop and prepare players to reach their full potential athletically and personally through skill training and character building.

For more information regarding the camp, or for registration questions, contact Cedartown Public Information Officer Aimee Madden at 770-748-3220 or amadden@cedartowngeorgia.gov.

“I would encourage parents to come out and actually watch,” Castille said. “Bring your lawn chairs and watch what we do and see how we interact and coach their children. I encourage them to attend.”